Upstate moves to get rid of bottled water to save money, reduce waste

Syracuse, NY -- In an attempt to be greener, Upstate Medical University is giving its employees an alternative to bottled water and may end up eliminating the little plastic bottles of H2O from vending machines and cafeterias in its buildings.

Bottled water has a big carbon footprint, Vice President for Physical Plant Services Gary Kittell said.

Upstate is in the process of installing new water filtration systems at about 15 drinking fountains, at a cost of about $500 each, and the work should be done by Thanksgiving, he said. It’s a pilot effort and if it goes over well with employees, Upstate may add more filtered water stations. The idea is to decrease demand for bottle water, Kittell said.

Upstate has contracts with at least two vendors who sell bottled water in cafeterias and machines at Upstate. Upstate won’t do anything about those sales until those contracts expire, Kittell said.

Upstate no longer buys water in coolers for its employees and hasn’t since shortly after Gov. David Paterson issued an executive order in May saying the state would no longer pay for bottled water at state facilities, Kittell said. Some offices within Upstate used to buy for employees, he said.

Upstate also no longer uses bottled water at luncheons and other university events.